3 basic driving skills
This chapter includes information on basic skills, driving in traffic and vehicle
fast fact
More than 27 per cent of all
greenhouse gas emissions in
Canada are produced by the
road transportation sector.
Heavy-duty vehicles account
for 19 per cent of this total.
Good safe driving habits can
reduce fuel consumption
by as much as 30 per cent,
save thousands of dollars a
year in fuel and maintenance
costs, and reduce emissions.
For more smart ways to be
fuel-efficient, visit Natural
Resources Canada’s Office of
Energy Efficiency website at
www.oee.nrcan.gc.ca or call
1-800-387-2000.
and personal safety.
What you’ll learn
After studying this chapter you’ll be able to:
-- describe various techniques for driving safely in traffic
-- define the term danger zone and describe how to reduce the size of
your danger zone
-- describe the factors that affect your vehicle’s turning characteristics
and techniques to help you turn safely
-- describe how to back up safely
-- describe when and how to shift gears
-- describe how to handle each of the following special situations:
passing and being passed, parking, intersections, crossing railway
lines, various weather conditions and night driving
-- identify potential vehicle and personal safety issues and describe
how to reduce risks for yourself and other road users.
Sharing the road
When you’re sharing the road with other vehicles, it’s important that you know
how to follow safely, deal with tailgaters and identify your danger zone. These
sections provide information that can help you drive safely when there are
pedestrians, cyclists and other vehicles on the road. This chapter will also
further develop the road safety topics introduced in chapter 2.
Following distance
You can establish a safe following distance using different rules. The rule you
should use depends on the type of vehicle you’re driving.
In all cases, rules for determining how closely you can safely follow another
vehicle apply to ideal driving conditions. If conditions are less than ideal,
increase your following distance. Driving conditions are affected by:
• road conditions
• vehicle conditions
• your physical and mental condition
• traffic conditions
• lighting conditions
• weather conditions.
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driving commercial vehicles
Remember to leave at least
two seconds between your
vehicle and the vehicle in
front when driving a taxi,
limousine, ambulance or van.
A mailbox is the
checkpoint in this illustration.
Keep at least a five-second
following distance when
driving a bus, truck or heavy
vehicle.
definition
Traffic flow refers to the
movement of a group of
vehicles travelling on one
road. The actions of any
vehicle within this group may
affect several or all of the
other vehicles.
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Taxi, limousine, ambulance or van
Drivers of passenger cars and light trucks should use the two-second rule for
keeping a safe following distance:
1. Watch the vehicle ahead pass some checkpoint on the roadway, such as
an overpass or sign post.
2. Start to count: “One thousand and one, one thousand and two.” That’s
two seconds.
If the checkpoint is reached before the count is finished, your following
distance isn’t enough — drop back, pick a new checkpoint and count again.
If you’re following a motorcycle, you’ll need to leave even more space
because motorcycles can stop quickly.
Lengthen your following distance on the highway and when road or weather
conditions are poor.
Bus, truck or other heavy vehicle
Since you need more time and distance to stop if you’re driving one of these
vehicles, keep at least a five-second following distance.
When conditions are less than ideal, increase the number of seconds and
adjust your following distance.
Traffic flow
Your travelling speed depends on driving conditions, including traffic flow.
You need to match your travelling speed with the traffic flow while staying
within the speed limit.
Driving faster than the flow
If you drive faster than the traffic flow, you increase your chance of crashing
into vehicles in front of you.
• You won’t be able to maintain a safe following distance, which means you
will be unable to stop quickly and safely.
 chapter 3 — basic driving skills

• You increase your chance of making a wrong decision. Driving faster than
the traffic around you requires more lane changes. Each lane change
represents a problem that requires quick decision-making. The more
decisions you make, the greater the chance you’ll make a wrong one.
• You’ll tire more quickly. Driving faster than the traffic flow creates tension
and causes mental and physical fatigue.
Maintaining a steady speed, within legal limits, at a safe following distance will
help give you the time needed to react in an emergency situation. Driving at
a steady speed also saves money and helps the environment by reducing the
amount of fuel your vehicle burns.

Driving slower than the flow

If you drive slower than the traffic flow, you increase your chance of a collision
with vehicles travelling behind or beside you. Other drivers will become
impatient and follow too closely or try to overtake your vehicle. After passing,
they may cut in leaving you with little or no room for a quick stop.
Large vehicles tend to accelerate and travel more slowly than small vehicles.
When you’re unable to keep up with the traffic flow, you must travel in the
right lane.

Tailgaters
Drivers of large vehicles must rely on outside mirrors for rear vision. You may
not be able to see tailgaters who sit in the blind spot directly behind you.
You also may not always be able to prevent a rear-end collision caused by
these drivers, but if stops are gradual, the impact may be much less.
Tailgaters are easiest to deal with when they’re in front of you. It’s a good
safety practice to allow tailgaters to pass. Watch for these drivers by checking
your rear-view mirror frequently.
When you drive a large commercial vehicle on a highway, leave at least 60 m
(200 ft) between your vehicle and other large commercial vehicles.
Always use the right lane when you’re travelling more slowly than other traffic
and are going up or down a hill where a passing lane is provided. In some
cases, signs require slower drivers to keep to the right lanes.
Vehicles may build behind you when you’re driving on a one-lane road and
travelling more slowly than other traffic, such as when going up a hill. Allow
them to pass as soon as it’s safe.
It’s a good safety practice to use your four-way flashers when you’re driving
slowly up or down a hill (some companies require this).
Vehicles, machinery or combinations of vehicles that travel at less than
A slow moving vehicle 40 km/h should display a red triangle slow moving vehicle sign. Don’t put
warning sign. this sign on any stationary object or on any vehicle that’s travelling faster than
40 km/h.

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driving commercial vehicles

Traffic-control person ahead.
Construction zones
Look for construction zones ahead and look out for traffic-control persons,
construction workers and equipment. Remember, road construction doesn’t
just occur in the daytime.
In some construction zones, you may need to wait for a pilot car to escort
you through the work zone. Leave plenty of following distance between
your vehicle and the vehicle immediately ahead. Avoid changing lanes in a
construction zone. Also leave space between you, the construction crews and
their equipment.
Check radio, television and websites for the latest in traffic reports and
updates to find out what’s happening along your area roads and intended
route. Consider taking an alternate route.

Danger zones
The section of road a vehicle travels through before it can stop is called the
fast fact vehicle’s danger zone because it’s physically impossible for you to stop in time
to avoid a collision with any object or person.
Professional drivers:
As your speed increases, the length of your danger zone increases. Less than
• set their pace according ideal road conditions, such as rain, snow, ice or gravel, increase the length of
to existing conditions and
your danger zone. Driving fast in these road conditions increases your danger
traffic flow
zone even more.
• maintain a safe stopping
distance ahead and Reduce your danger zone by slowing down. Remember, it’s easier to keep out
behind of trouble than get out of trouble.
• maintain driving space all Your danger zone is reduced when your vehicle’s speed is reduced. You also
around their vehicle reduce your danger zone when you cover the brake pedal with your foot
• have time to read the any time you see a potential hazard developing (for example, whenever you
traffic pattern approach an intersection).
• continuously plan an
escape route in case the Truck 1 is approximately 2½
danger zone becomes vehicle lengths from the
occupied. crosswalk when the driver sees
the pedestrian. Under ideal
conditions, the driver may be
able to stop just in time.
The driver of truck 2 can’t
stop in time, even under ideal
conditions.
See Speed and weight facts
in chapter 2.

As soon as you see a

potential hazard in your
danger zone, remove your
Cover brake foot from the accelerator
here

Apply brake here

and put it lightly on the
brake pedal. This will help
you apply the brakes sooner
Able to stop here
if you need to make an
If brake is not covered, the vehicle
won't stop before the crosswalk.
emergency stop.

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 chapter 3 — basic driving skills

Removing your foot from the accelerator and putting it lightly on the brake
pedal when you first see a potential hazard in your danger zone reduces your
reaction time. Your speed is slowing so you have a better chance of stopping
before the crosswalk rather than in the intersection.

Manoeuvring
There are many different types of commercial vehicles and each type has its
own driving characteristics. In most cases, commercial drivers operate vehicles
that are larger, heavier and longer than others on the road. The extra size,
weight and length affect the way these vehicles move, especially around turns
and while backing up.

Steering into turns

Steering and handling characteristics are different for conventional, cab-over
and forward-control vehicles.
In a conventional design, the driver’s seat and steering wheel are positioned
behind the steering axle. In a cab-over design, the driver’s seat is above the
steering axle. In a forward-control design, the driver’s seat is in front of the
steering axle. The position of the driver’s seat is different in each of these
configurations, which affects your viewpoint when turning. You’ll start your
turn at a slightly different point on the turning path depending on the type
of vehicle you’re driving (conventional, cab-over or forward-control).
These steering differences are apparent even in small vehicles. In large and
long vehicles the differences are magnified. The length of your vehicle and
the number of articulation points it has will also affect where you start your
turn. You’ll notice these differences and must account for them when you
switch from one type of vehicle to another.

Wheel positions during turns

Steering a large vehicle has the same basic principles as a passenger vehicle.
But steering a large or combination vehicle can be much more complicated.
As the operator of a large vehicle, you’ll need to consider these two factors
which determine the sharpness of your vehicle’s turn:

Turning radius
How sharply you can turn the front wheels of your vehicle depends on the
make and model of the vehicle you’re driving. In all cases, the wheel on
the inside of the curve (closest to the
direction you’re turning) will turn more
The wheel on the inside of sharply than the wheel on the outside
the turn must pivot more of the turn. The inside wheel will have
sharply to travel on the a shorter turning radius than the
shorter radius than the wheel outside wheel.
on the outside of the turn.

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driving commercial vehicles
The solid lines in this
illustration show the turning
radius of the vehicle’s
steering tires.
definition
Wheelbase is the distance
between the front wheels
and the rear wheels of a
vehicle.
Vehicles with longer
wheelbases have more
off tracking than those
with short wheelbases.
A combination vehicle
will usually have more off
tracking than a single-unit
vehicle.
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The radius is the distance from
the centre of a circle to the edge
of the circle. When a vehicle
turns a corner, it’s travelling on
a curve. If that vehicle were to
continue on the same path,
it would eventually drive in a
complete circle. The distance
from the centre of that imaginary
circle to the vehicle’s wheel is
the turning radius.
A vehicle’s rear tires have a
different turning radius than
its front tires. It is important to
know how to judge the turning
radius of your front tires to
prevent your vehicle’s rear tires
from cutting the corner.
Off track
When a vehicle moves around a curve, the rear wheels follow a different path
than the front wheels. The difference between the path of the front wheels
and the path of the rear wheels is called off track. The greater the distance
between the front wheels and the rear wheels of a vehicle, or a combination
of vehicles, the greater the amount of off track.
Each set of wheels behind the
front wheels turn with some off
tracking. A combination vehicle
displays several sets of off
tracking. The rear wheels of the
tractor turn somewhat off track
from the front wheels. The rear
wheels of the trailer turn with
even more off tracking.
 chapter 3 — basic driving skills

A single-unit vehicle and

a truck-tractor and semi-
trailer demonstrate different
turning characteristics.

A single-unit vehicle has different turning characteristics than a truck-tractor

and a semi-trailer. Each unit that has more than one set of wheels will have a
turning radius and an off-track pattern within itself. The amount of off track
depends on a number of factors including the wheel base of the units and the
location of the pivot points between the truck and trailers (for example, draw
bar connection point or location of the fifth wheel). The longer the wheel
base, and the longer the draw bar length or the farther back the fifth wheel is
mounted, the greater the amount of off track.

Inertia

Inertia affects a moving

vehicle in a curve.

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driving commercial vehicles
definition
Traction is the grip created
between a vehicle’s tires and
the road.
fast fact
Tires that are in poor
condition provide poor
traction.
Curve ahead — trucks and
buses slow to suggested
speed to avoid tipping over.
Position of a tractor and
semi-trailer’s wheels when
turning to the right.
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Curves and turns
Several forces work against you while you move your vehicle around a curve
or through a turn. You need to be aware of these and approach each curve at
a speed that allows you to safely control your vehicle.
Inertia is the tendency for moving objects — in this case you and your vehicle
— to continue to move forward in a straight line. When you brake, inertia tries
to keep your vehicle moving. When you go around a curve, inertia tries to
keep you going in a straight line.
The faster you’re going and the heavier your vehicle, the more inertia pushes
your vehicle away from the path of the curve. The faster you’re travelling, the
more difficult it’ll be to keep your vehicle on the path of the curve.
Traction is the grip your tires have on the road. The amount of traction your
tires have with the road’s surface determines the amount of control you can
maintain over your vehicle. If you enter a curve too quickly and try to slow
down by applying your brakes, you may lose traction, causing your vehicle to
skid, roll over or jackknife.
Reduce your speed before you enter a curve. Enter each curve at a speed that
doesn’t require you to brake and allows you to apply gradual power while
you’re in the curve. Make sure you obey any suggested speed signs in curves
to avoid tipping over.
Curves
When you curve to the right, keep the front wheels close to the centre line
so that your rear wheels don’t drop off the pavement or go onto the
pavement shoulder.